Legislative Branch Article I of the Constitution says…  Congress makes the laws.

Characteristics of Congress  Bicameral Legislature  Two Houses! Currently in the 113 th Congress (January 3, 2013) Ohio Representatives: 12 (R) members of House 4 (D) members of House 2 (R & D) Senators

House of Representatives  435 members and districts  Representatives serve a 2-year term  Number of Representatives from each state is based upon the state’s population- must be equal in size  Each state is GUARANTEED at least 1 Representative  Ohio’s Reps! (Ohio has 18 districts)  District 12 – Patrick Tiberi (Republican)  District 15- Steve Stivers (Republican)  District 7- Bob Gibbs (Republican)

House of Representatives  Qualifications:  Must be 25 years old  Citizen of the U.S. for 7 years  Live in the district you represent

Senate  2 from each state (100 members total)  Representatives represent the whole state  Serve a 6 year term

Senate  Qualifications:  Must be 30 years old  Citizen of U.S. for 9 years  Live in the state you are representing  Our Senators are:  Robert Portman (Republican)  Sherrod Brown(Democrat)

Power Players  House of Representatives  Speaker of the House  John Boehner (R- OH)  House Majority Leader  Eric Cantor (R-VA)  House Minority Leader  Nancy Pelosi (D- CA)

Power Players  Senate  President of the Senate  Vice President Biden  President Pro Tempore  Daniel Inouye (D- HI)  Majority Leader  Harry Reid (D-NV)  Minority Leader  Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Fun Facts!  1929 Reapportionment Act: limits House to ALWAYS only having 435 members.  Gerrymandering: ILLEGAL- drawing up districts so that one political party or group has a significant advantage.

Gerrymandering  Political cartoon illustrating gerrymandering in 1812

More Gerrymandering  New York

House Of Reps 435 Members 435 Districts 2 Year Term 25 years old 7 years in US Live in District You represent 1929 Reapportionment Act 100 Members- 2 from each state 6 Year Term 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Live in state Represent whole state Senate Congress Makes the Laws

Powers of Congress  Denied Powers  Bill of Attainder– Congress cannot pass any laws that would allow people to be punished without a trial

Powers of Congress  Denied Powers  Ex Post Facto Law– Congress can not pass a law that would impose a penalty on acts that were not a crime at the time they were committed

Powers of Congress  Denied Powers  Writ of Habeas Corpus—Congress cannot pass a law that keeps a person from knowing what crime they’ve been charged with (a hearing before a judge).

Congressional Powers  Power to:  Declare War  Tax and Borrow Money  Regulate (control) Federal and Interstate Commerce (Trade)  NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE!!  Constitution is a Living Document, remember?

Impeachment Powers  Impeachment Is…the power to remove  "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors “  ROLES in Impeachment Process  House of Reps- investigator  Senate- Jury in Impeachment Hearings- 2/3 vote needed  Chief Justice- Judge during hearing

 Presidents:  Andrew Johnson 17 th President( )  Bill Clinton 42 nd President ( )

Quickwrite  What issues would you want addressed by your Representative(s)?  What characteristics do you look for in a Representative?